Questions of science, science and progress
If you tuned into the Grammy’s on Sunday night, you may have seen this commercial.
From Chipotle’s website: “Coldplay’s haunting classic “The Scientist” is performed by country music legend Willie Nelson for the soundtrack of the short film entitled “Back to the Start.” The film, by film-maker Johnny Kelly, depicts the life of a farmer as he slowly turns his family farm into an industrial animal factory before seeing the errors of his ways and opting for a more sustainable future. Both the film and the soundtrack were commissioned by Chipotle to emphasize the importance of developing a sustainable food system. “
While an ad like this may seem odd or even hypocritical (considering it is coming from a fast-food company within an industry notorious for unhealthy ‘food’ products), it is very moving as it brings up some great points: Is it really progress if all we’re doing is destroying our food, our bodies and the environment? What is the purpose of science if it takes us one step forward but two steps back? Perhaps, most importantly, the commercial should make you question what you are eating–where it comes from, how it is grown, how it impacts the planet and your health.
Keep in mind, Chipotle is not a perfect company. Like many restaurants, their foods tend to be high in sodium and high in calories (again, depending on what you order and the amount you eat). And at one time, Chipotle received financial backing from McDonald’s, which allowed the company to grow and expand. However, a ‘perfect’ company doesn’t exist in the food industry, or any business sector for that matter. Company survival depends on profit and the means to that end tend to be overlooked. But Chipotle is trying, searching for profit while supporting smaller businesses, local farming and reducing negative environmental impact. If one company in the fast-food sector supports these ideals, maybe others will follow this trend.
But you don’t have to eat at Chipotle to support sustainable farming. Purchasing food from a farmers’ market supports small and local businesses, many of which follow at least some sustainable practices. If you have the space, composting is a great way to create a nutrient-rich fertilizer for your lawn. At the grocery store, look for bulk bins, where you can bring your own container to refill with pantry staples like beans, nuts, coffee and grains–the items are usually cheaper and you’re helping to reduce product packing waste.
Critically examining the way you think of food, farming and the environment may seem odd and changing your food purchasing habits may seem like it won’t make a difference. Yes, change is hard but not impossible and it does make a difference. Imagine if each of us started small and made just one change to positively influence our current food culture–maybe we wouldn’t have such a disproportionate amount of unhealthy people; perhaps our planet wouldn’t be in such peril; and maybe we would actually be happier if our food, which should nourish and fuel our bodies, wasn’t pumped full of unpronounceable chemicals manufactured in a lab. Let’s go back to the start…
Related articles
- Chipotle at the Grammys (theconscientiousomnivore.wordpress.com)
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